Mixing device for photographic processing solutions



June 20, 1967 R. G. MATHESON 3,326,531

MIXING DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSING SOLUTIONS Filed Dec. 5, 1964 United States Patent MIXING DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSING SOLUTIONS Ralph G. Matheson, Gloucester, Mass., assignor to Mathe- Sonie Company, Inc., Gloucester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Dec. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 417,535 7 Claims. (Cl. 25967) quence to avoid. forming undesirable precipitates. The

receptacles used for measuring must be kept thoroughly clean to prevent contamination of the solution, Measuring and mixing the chemicals is a time consuming process, and requires considerable skill and attention on the part of the operator. This is especially true in the case of complex solutions such as those used in developing color film, and in mixing small batches of solution of any type, because minor errors in measurement have a greater effect.

The object of this invention is to provide a device by means of which photographic solutions may be mixed quickly, accurately, and uniformly, which requires no particular skill on the part of the operator, which eliminates the danger of human error, and which minimizes the possibility of contamination of the solution. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the device will be apparent from the following description.

The device here described utilizes a capsule partitioned into a series of compartments. The compartments are filled with the requisite amounts of the various chemicals required for a particular solution, arranged from top to bottom of the capsule in the order in which the chemicals should be mixed. The capsule and partitions are made of a chemical resistant plastic or similar material. The

capsule is placed in a holder and a tank having the correct capacity for the amount of water required is placed on top of the capsule. A second receiving tank is placed under the holder.

A motor driven stirring and piercing device is mounted above the upper tank. This device is movable vertically and can be lowered to pierce the capsule partitions in succession and simultaneously mix the contents with water running into the capsule from the upper tank. When the piercing device has passed through the bottom of the capsule, the solution runs down into the receiving tank where it may be stored or drained off into a film processing machine.

In the drawings illustrating the invention:

FIG. 1 is an elevation, partly in cross-section, of a group of mixing devices constructed according to the invention, for use on a film processing machine;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along line 22 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-section in the region of the top of the cartridge shown in FIG. 1.

A typical installation of the mixing device on a film processing machine, such as that described in my aforecross-section taken along line said previous application, utilizing a single tank for all the processing and washing steps, is here illustrated. A pipe line 209 for supplying wash water to the processing tank (not shown) is connected through a shutoff valve 212a, and a mixing valve 191 which controls the water temperature, to a source of hot and cold water (not shown). A pair of by-pass lines 210 and 211 are connected through shut-off valves 210a and 211a to pipe line 209 between valves 212a and 191. Pipe 210 leads to an insulated tank 213 which may be drained back into the wash water line through a pipe 214 and drain valve 215. Mounted in tank213 is a mixing tank 216 which is connected through a valve 217 and suitable piping to a solution feed pipe which leads to the. developing tank (not shown) of the processing machine.

Above, and communicating with tank 216 is a tubular cartridge holder 218. A disposable cartridge, generally indicated by the numeral 219, fits into this holder. The cartridge may be made of thin plastic or other suitable material and consists of several sections 219a, 219b, etc., each containing one of the chemicals which is to be used in a processing solution. The number .of sections will vary according to the number of ingredients used in the pressed portions 220a, 221a, 220b, 221b, etc. in its top and bottom walls, respectively. A removable water tank 222, having an open, threaded neck 222a, which engages the upper section 219a of the cartridge, rests on top of the cartridge holder 218 and is supported by three fins 218a (FIG. 3). Pipe 211 leads into water tank 222.

An electric motor 223 is slidably mounted on a rod 224 supported by a bracket 22 5. This motor drives a shaft 226, on the lower end of which is mounted a piercing head 227, and a stirrer 228 surrounded by a slidable tubular shield 229.

To mix a solution, the tank 213 ing valve 2100, with water at the correct temperature to provide a water bath for the solution tank 216. The operator then opens valve 211a, and fills tank 222 with the desired amount of water, also at the correct temperature for the solution, the temperature being controlled by setting valve 191. The operator next starts motor 223 and moves it gradually downward, causing head 227 to pierce each of the cartridge sections in succession. As it does so, the chemical in each section is mixed, in the proper order, with the water from tank 222. Shield 229 slides back and stays on top of the cartridge. When the head 227 punctures the bottom wall of the lowermost cartridge section, the mixed solution drops down into tank 216, where it may be further mixed by the stirring head. From there, it may be fed into the machine by opening valve 217. Tank 216 is preferably provided with a mesh screen 230 for straining the solution as it passes into the machine.

After the solution has been fed into the machine, the cartridge 219 may be withdrawn, after removing tank 222 by means of a cord 231. The entire mixing assembly may be washed during the rinsing cycle, or at some convenient time when the machine is idle, by running water through from pipe 211.

The mixing device just described cals are mixed in the proper amount and sequence. and the solution is kept uncontaminated and at the right temperature until it is fed into the machine. A number of similar mixing devices, corresponding to the number of solutions required for a particular process, may be mounted side by side, as shown in FIG. 2.

The capsules are preferably packed at a chemical plant or factory, under carefully controlled conditions, so that even an unskilled operator can produce uniform reis first filled by openinsures that the chemi- 3 sults in processing film. The device thus eliminates human error in film processing.

The operator does not have to weigh or measure chemicals, many of which are poisonous or corrosive. The device thus makes film processing safer, as well as easier and more convenient.

The device is shown as installed directly on a machine, but it is understood that the mixed solutions may be drained into vessels and stored for future use. The device may also be used for mixing chemical solutions other than those used for photographic processing,

It is understood that the liquid put into tank 222 may itself be a mixed water solution, or may be some other type of solvent, and that the term water as used herein is intended to include such liquids.

What is claimed is: g

1. A device for mixing chemical solutions comprising a capsule having top and bottom walls and containing a chemical ingredient, a water tank disposed adjacent said top Wall and having a bottom opening exposing at least ceiving tank.

a portion of said top wall, a piercing device movable through said opening to pierce said top wall, and a stirring device, said piercing device being of a size to make a hole large enough to admit said stirring device into said capsule.

2. Amixing device for mixing chemical solutions comprising a capsule holder, a capsule mounted in said holder and having top and bottom walls, a water tank mounted above said holder and having a bottom opening exposing at least a portion of said top wall, a piercing device movable through said opening to pierce said top wall, a re- 4. A device for mixing chemical solutions comprising a capsule having top and bottom walls and containing a chemical ingredient, a water tank disposed adjacent said top wall and having a bottom opening exposing at least a portion of said top wall, a motor having a shaft disposed in line with said tank and said capsule, and a piercing device mounted on said shaft, said motor being movable to pass said piercing device through said opening.

5. A mixing device as described in claim 4 including a stirring device mounted on said shaft.

6. A mixing device as described in claim 4 including a shield surrounding said piercing device and movable along said shaft to expose said piercing device.

7. A mixing device as described in claim 4, said top wall having a recessed portion, and said tank having a neck defining said opening and disposed in said recessed W. A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

R. W. JENKINS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR MIXING CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS COMPRISING A CAPSULE HAVING TOP BOTTOM WALLS AND CONTAINING A CHEMICAL INGREDIENT, A WATER TANK DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID TOP WALL AND HAVING A BOTTOM OPENING EXPOSING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID TOP WALL, A PIERCING DEVICE MOVABLE THROUGH SAID OPENING TO PIERCE SAID TOP WALL, AND A STIRRING DEVICE, SAID PIERCING DEVICE BEING OF A SIZE TO MAKE A HOLE LARGE ENOUGH TO ADMIT SAID STIRRING DEVICE INTO SAID CAPSULE. 